Water Hyacinth

aquatic plants · invasive species · South America

Pretty purple flowers. Water hyacinth has gorgeous lavender-colored flowers that bloom above the water's surface, making it look decorative at first glance.

Grows incredibly fast. This plant multiplies so quickly that it can double in size in just two to three weeks, creating thick mats across waterways.

Spread across the globe. Native to South America, water hyacinth has now naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, traveling mainly through human activities.

Terror of Bengal. In some places like Bengal, India, water hyacinth became so invasive and problematic that people started calling it the 'terror of Bengal' because it clogs waterways and disrupts ecosystems.

Floats with air pockets. The plant has puffy, bulging stems filled with air that keep it floating on the water's surface like natural pontoons.